M28 Church https://m28church.com Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:07:19 +0000 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:07:19 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Submitting to each other in matters of biblical discipline https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/17/submitting-to-each-other-in-matters-of-biblical-discipline Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:34:53 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/17/submitting-to-each-other-in-matters-of-biblical-discipline
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Submit to each other in matters of biblical discipline (Ephesians 5:21)

The word discipline in our modern context and to be used among the church today may seem out of touch or even harsh by many. Why would anyone covenant with others and commit to submitting to one another in biblical discipline? Just the words ‘submit’ and ‘discipline’ can bring up a range of thoughts, emotions, and responses. So, why would we include this commitment in our covenant?
To make disciples is to discipline one another. Chapter 5 in the book of Ephesians is full of examples given to the church with warnings of what is not the life of a follower of Christ and what is the evidence of having faith in Christ. The chapter ends with the command that we are to ‘submit to one another out of reverence for Christ’. Hebrews 12:10-11 speaks of how God disciplines those whom He loves and it leads to a life that bears the fruit of righteousness. 

So, on a basic but very biblical basis, church discipline is very much a part of the discipleship process given to the church so that we will grow in holiness and righteousness. It is a means to our sanctification.

Contrary to modern misconceptions, church discipline is not about power, control, or guilt, rather it is about love for one another so that we will endure to the end and show ourselves faithful to Christ. I have said for the entire 10 years of our church family so far that we covenant together to care for one another's souls. Church discipline is about soul care. It is about loving one another so that we will reflect the character of Christ in our lives.
Church discipline does have a formal process when necessary and you can read of it in Matthew 18. But most church discipline happens in a very loving, ongoing, and from our relationships. It takes place in our community groups as we are corrected as we study the Bible together. It happens over coffee as you connect with a brother in Christ and confess sin and ask for prayer. It is when you meet a sister in Christ and share the Word as she shares her struggle in an area of life. We may not even recognize in the moment that church discipline is taking place, but it is and this is why it is from love and encouragement we are committed to this biblical command.
In rare cases, a situation may require bringing it to the attention of the entire church if a member is refuses to repent of clear biblical guidance and in the areas of our covenant. This is also a hard and sad time in the life of a church family, but it is an area we must engage due to the care of souls. Thankfully, this level of church discipline is rare due to each member's desire to share life together in covenant and care for one another through worship, study, prayer, and fellowship. When we care for one another in this way, it is life-giving and becomes a vital part of our joy in the church family. 

It truly is the type of discipline that makes true disciples! 

]]> Biblical stewardship of finances https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/10/biblical-stewardship-of-finances Wed, 10 Jan 2024 12:24:23 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/10/biblical-stewardship-of-finances
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Support the ministry and function of the Kingdom of God through biblical stewardship of finances in the church and in our own lives (Luke 16:11)

The topic of money and giving has not always been well received in the church. It is a valid critique at times because of how money has been handled, or mishandled in some churches, or how scandal has erupted over money being embezzled or used inappropriately. When I hear stories like this it makes me sick. My prayer is that M28 Church will always be a place that has transparency and accountability for every financial gift given to the church.
On the flip side, I think money gets a bad reputation because it exposes our hearts in ways we don’t like. The Bible is clear that money is a very tangible expression of our hearts. We are told to store up treasures in heaven and not here on earth. The Bible says that if we can’t be trusted with what we have here in these days, how can we be trusted with the true wealth of God’s kingdom? Scripture speaks of that every good gift is from God and that we are to give Him praise. Therefore, we are stewards of these gifts for His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom in these days.

Our giving is an act of praise and worship and we have this commitment in our covenant as it is the responsibility of the members to meet the budget each year that we affirm as a church family.

Of course, anyone is welcome to give to the church, but I do want to make a special appeal to all the members to worshipfully participate in giving. This is a primary way we partner together to accomplish the task of seeing the Gospel go forth here in our city and to the nations to those we support around the world. Each person has a different life situation, varying income, and a unique margin for giving in any season of life. As members of the church, I pray that we will all give with equal sacrifice, but that does not mean that we will all give equal amounts. 
Finally, it is a great joy to write this short post because God has been so faithful for the ministry we have committed to as a church, thanks to your giving. I truly can’t THANK YOU enough for your amazing generosity over the recent years at M28. Because of your faithfulness in giving we have been able to accomplish the capital improvement projects on top of our ever-increasing budget to our mission partners. Our facilities are at a place that has positioned us to do ministry over time and we have not had to take on any debt or do any additional giving campaigns. In fact, your willingness to give will enable us to do even more ministry in the coming days! Praise God.

Giving is a joy and a response to the Gospel. Giving allows God to shape our hearts over our lives so that we will treasure what He treasures and grow in our dependence upon Him.

If you have not been a regular giver, this is the time to start. Maybe you need to start with a very small amount, but take the first step, give God praise for the gifts He gives you, and join with your fellow members in investing in the work that He has called us to as a church family.

My prayer is that in January of each year we will need to always have a time at the ‘Vision Breakfast’ that kicks off the year to pray over and ask God to lead us in being a church family that is ever increasing in our generosity and support of His work here in our city and to the nations.
]]> Preserving unity in the church https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/03/preserving-unity-in-the-church Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:40:08 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2024/01/03/preserving-unity-in-the-church
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Preserve unity in the church so far as it is biblically possible, wise and appropriate (Philippians 1:27; 2:1-2)

We have all heard the horror story or have even lived through it possibly - a church split! The fallout of disunity in the church is harmful and is a delight to Satan. Since the Gospel is what unites us as believers, when conflict is abounding among the people of God, we are telling a lie about the Gospel. Our covenant has this wonderful commitment that we must labor together to fulfill. 

Philippians 1:27 says “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ,so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”.

It is an imperative that the manner of our lives are ones of unity and standing together for the Gospel. This should mark us as the people of God. The world is in constant conflict and disunity. The Church is to be marked by a people that look to the Prince of Peace that gives an eternal peace to us individually and collectively that truly shapes how we think, live, and serve together. The book of Philippians was used in our covenant as the Biblical basis for our unity (even though so many other passages could be listed) because we are shown the hope and joy of God’s people that are striving for faithfulness by having ‘...the same love, being in full accord and one mind” (Philippians 2:2). To do this, we must die to ourselves and live for Christ. The mission of Christ for us as His Church must come before any of our own individual desires and demands. When we are united in this way we can be assured that we will not be on the precipice of any church split.
During the first 10 years as a church, I am so encouraged by the amazing unity that we have had among us. No doubt, not everyone agrees on all things at all times, but yet we truly have had a godly and Christ focused unity. My prayer is that as we reflect on our covenant at this 10 year celebration that we would rightly recognize this is the power of the Gospel in our lives! Our collective love of Christ, His Word, and His mission has kept us united and His Spirit is causing us to love one another in ever increasing measure. We, of course, can not think that we are immune to disunity though. Therefore, we must be constantly vigilant as His people to come back to the Gospel over and over again and make sure that we are guarding the unity of our Church for His glory and our good!

Our unity is dependent on each of us being committed to the Word of God as the sole authority and voice of God among us.

His Word is how we set rails and boundaries of faithful living and a healthy functioning, but most importantly a godly and true church. Our unity will be found as we continue to be Word centered and Christ exalting in all we do as a church family.

May 2024 be another wonderful year of us laboring to preserve unity in our church family in all we do as we worship, serve, and go on mission together!

]]> Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/19/sharing-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-to-the-lost Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:24:24 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/19/sharing-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-to-the-lost
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost (Matt. 28:18-20; Ps. 96:3)

How many of you were taught or have heard: 'Don’t talk about politics and religion'?
I am fine if we pass on political discussions (even though we definitely need to discuss them), but we cannot fail to speak of our faith. As we reach this line of our covenant, it is the very commitment we make that is based on the namesake of our church, M28 Church.

Matthew 28 (M28) is the last chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, and it is here that we read of Christ bursting forth from the tomb after His crucifixion and then telling those gathered to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ Disciple-making begins with proclaiming the Gospel.
Evangelism has always been a part of God’s people.

Psalm 96:3 says, 'Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!'

And Paul, in the book of Romans, speaks that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and that this has always been the way. There is no distinction for people to be saved or different methods depending on where or when you have lived. So, he is clear that people can only hear as we share and send one another to share the Gospel (Romans 10:5-17). In seminary, I took a class called personal evangelism, and I still remember my favorite definition of evangelism: 'I am just one man trying to tell another man where I found bread.' I can’t credit the person who said it, but I love it! What wonderful imagery and truth.

My prayer for M28 is that we will be a people so consumed with the goodness and glory of God that we will have a culture of evangelism in our church family.

What I mean by this is that when others are around us, the Gospel will just come out of us because we are so taken by God’s salvation we have in Christ. The focus many times is on results when we talk about Gospel sharing, and it is right to long for and pray toward others confessing Christ and being baptized. In fact, I pray that 2024 may be the most fruitful year for M28 in this area. But the results must not be our main focus. The joy and task of sharing the Gospel are to be our aim as the people of God. He brings the harvest as we sow and water the seeds!
Some may be a gifted evangelist (Ephesians 4:11-12), but most of us aren’t. Rather, the Bible calls the Church to be evangelistic. We, the Church, are to be so confident in the Gospel and so consumed with the Gospel that evangelism will just be a natural response and result of God’s people. This is why we can’t think of evangelism ultimately as something that we just do individually (even though that will take place), but rather it is the call of the Church! It is who we are as a Church! 

We are the people just telling others ‘where we found bread’!

We do this in many ways, including our singing, preaching, praying, fellowshipping, and each week we take the Lord’s Supper. Let’s not let these opportunities pass without proclaiming again and again the salvation that is in Christ alone! I have been asked due to our name if M28 Church is a cult or just trying to be ‘hip’? The answer is neither! We are just trying to be the people that joyfully share the Gospel with all that the Lord puts before us! So, M28…let’s make disciples and baptize them as we proclaim and teach all that our Savior has commanded! So we may not want to talk about politics, but we must talk about ‘religion’ to a lost world that may not even know they need 'bread.' What a joy to be God’s plan to tell His creation that He is the only way to salvation.

What a joy to covenant with each of you as we partner together to share the Gospel with our neighbors and unto the nations!

]]> Living in a manner consistent with the salvation we have in Christ https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/13/living-in-a-manner-consistent-with-the-salvation-we-have-in-christ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:43:37 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/13/living-in-a-manner-consistent-with-the-salvation-we-have-in-christ
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Live in a manner consistent with the salvation we have in Christ (Matthew 5:16; Colossians 3:5-17; Philippians 1:27)

The statistics and news of Christianity in America is bleak by many accounts. Churches are dying all the time. People are ‘deconstructing’ their faith and those we once looked up to in the faith are no longer professing Christ as Savior. The word ‘evangelical’ is considered a negative label by the mainstream media and most of our neighbors. In spite of this reality, I am encouraged, as it seems that cultural Christianity is also dying in the US.

The true Church is being identified and seen in a fresh way because following Christ changes how you think, but also how you live!

To live in a manner consistent with the salvation we have in Christ means that when we confess Jesus as Savior, He is also the Lord of our lives. A true follower of Jesus cannot look to Him for salvation and then return to their regularly scheduled lives with no evidence or hint of change. A life consistent with the salvation we have in Christ disrupts everything. He is Lord and He has full right and authority to give us our marching orders on how to live. The true follower of Christ views this as a great relief and joy, not as a burden. His Lordship brings freedom, not a heavy burden. During His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught that His people will live in such a way that those who see our lives and how we live will give glory to God in heaven (Matthew 5:16). 

We can only do this as our lives model day to day what our mouths confess to be true in Christ!

Our covenant gives Colossians 3:5-17 as a reference for this commitment that we make. Although it is not comprehensive in all ways, it is clear that those who have salvation in Christ will have areas of life that need ‘put to death’ (Col 3:5ff) and areas we need to ‘put on’ (Col 3:12ff). This is why we need each other so much! It is through the regular gathering together in our weekly worship gathering, community groups, prayer times, and just meeting around coffee, dinner, or any other event that matters so much. Every follower of Christ needs one another to watch over our lives and help us to rightly ‘put to death’ and ‘put on’ so that we live in a manner consistent with our salvation. So, as the new year approaches, do you need to really make a fresh commitment to be consistently living in a way that will be seen by others so that you remain faithful? Is there an area of sin you need to confess and repent that the Bible clearly tells us is sinful and not consistent with salvation in Christ? 

Finally, my prayer is that you fulfill this part of our covenant by living in such a way that your life grows in ever increasing measure to display the hope we have in Christ. 

This commitment is not intended to be legalistic or a moral to do list, rather it is a focus so that we can be clear to the world: Our salvation, hope, joy, and peace is in Christ and Christ alone! Does your life consistently display this as you live, work, play, and worship? How this question is answered helps us evaluate how faithful we are in this line of our covenant. So, lean in and set your aim on Christ in all that you do! Read His Word and pray the Spirit will continue to sanctify you. Confess sin and repent and walk in growing holiness before God. Sharpen one another in your lives and be teachable in all you do!

It is here that we have the foundation to be a people that will live our lives in a manner that is consistent with our salvation in Christ!

]]> Regularly Assembling for Worship and Fellowship https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/06/regularly-assembling-for-worship-and-fellowship Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:34:57 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/12/06/regularly-assembling-for-worship-and-fellowship
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Regularly assemble for worship and fellowship (Hebrews 10:25)

I can remember the onslaught of Zoom calls, phone calls, and questions I was getting about gathering on Sunday. News was breaking and this odd virus called Covid was scaring everyone and the leaders of our country began to mandate that everyone had to stay at home. There was no class from my time at seminary that ever discussed this possibility and how to gather as we are commanded to, in Scripture.

I am so thankful for those that just jumped in and figured out how to pivot in a few days to get us ‘together’ online as we figured this all out. During this time I was hearing about how excited other churches were because so many people were joining them online. It seemed God was using such a difficult time as a way to have the Gospel go forth in a new way. I am thankful for this technology and that we were able to still offer a way to proclaim the Gospel as a church family, but I was worried, as many pastors were, if people would return as soon as the stay at home orders were lifted. I do know that many church families have suffered greatly even to this day in light of how the pandemic caused people to stop meeting together. Churches around the world have had to make many decisions on the importance and effectiveness of being together weekly.

As grateful as I am for the technology that we used during the pandemic (and still use), we must do all we can to gather as the people of God! Our gathering throughout the week is not about just getting information out or checking off our spiritual to do list. Being ‘in the room’ together on a weekly basis matters greatly!

The Church becomes the Church when we gather!

Of course, each follower of Jesus is a Christian at all times, but the Church is evidence of this when we gather. Our gathering is so important that our country was founded in part so that we could have the freedom to worship without government interference. There are governments around the world that persecute the gathered Church relentlessly, and yet God’s people continue to gather. This persecution is because when we gather, we declare collectively that our allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom. When we gather as a church we are making a public profession of our faith and we are witnessing to our neighbors the unity and hope in Christ,and our allegiance to Him. I know that people will say that the church is a people, not a place. But it is when the Church is gathered that the Church is visible and distinct in these days.

This part of our covenant is not only contained to our weekly Sunday morning worship gathering. It is a priority and should always be a top priority for the people of God. We must also be committed to meet regularly in other ways also. This is why our community groups, discipleship groups, and other studies are valuable, but I also deeply encourage each of you to just meet together regularly. Do life together. Laugh together. Sing together. Cry together. Pray together. Eat together. As we read in Hebrews 10:24-25, consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds, NOT NEGLECTING TO MEET TOGETHER….  

This commitment in our covenant is not less than our weekly worship gathering, but it is more!

I am so thankful that M28 Church has a very low online presence. I want the Gospel to go to all the world and the internet is a great way to make that happen, but in this case, I rejoice that we are a people that know we must GATHER TOGETHER over and over again. We will continue to seek to take the Gospel to the nations, but our witness begins right here in West Midtown day after day and Sunday after Sunday as we gather in the name of our King, Lord Jesus! Our gathering is a part of our declaration of faith and what we believe!  

My soul is so deeply encouraged by the Lord as I hear us SING when we gather! The PRAYERS of one another are deeply sustaining to me as I navigate life day to day. The CONVERSATIONS of life give me joy and assurance of why community matters. I can’t even express how all the laughter and tears have been such a delight to me with each of you. I am also just amazed at how soul changing it has been to see us even navigate hurt feelings occasionally and other difficult situations with Christ-like forgiveness and love. These reasons and many more are why we must be together regularly!

Don’t neglect this great joy the Lord has for His people!

I am glad that I see so many of you not only on Sunday, but many other days of the week as well! My greatest joy is that even though we still use modern technology at times for meetings, what a joy to actually be with you as we gather in the name of Christ!  To Him be the glory!
]]> Maintaining the Teaching of the Word of God https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/29/maintaining-the-teaching-of-the-word-of-god Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:52:58 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/29/maintaining-the-teaching-of-the-word-of-god
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Maintain the teaching of the Word of God as the only rule for faith and life (2 Timothy 4:2; Colossians 1:28)

Many people wonder and ask: How can I serve the church? This commitment in our covenant is a PRIMARY and REQUIRED way to serve. The elders of the church are to lead out in the ministry of the Word for the congregation, but it is the responsibility (and privilege) of all the church to maintain the doctrinal integrity and fidelity of the teaching of God’s Word.

We have an annual “Berean Weekend” and it is named this from Acts 17. Paul and Silas are sent to Berea and we read in verse 11 that the people received the Word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. The Word of God is our only standard. There is no higher or greater standard. The Bible tells us that the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). As many modern poets, artists, and philosophers have pined that the ‘times are a changing’, we can be confident that the Word of God never changes. The Bible is our only rule for faith and life.

The Word of God is also completely SUFFICIENT!

The sufficiency of Scripture is an area that we all must affirm and seek to live by. Many love the idea that Jesus died for them and may affirm that He is the only way unto salvation, but yet countless then proceed to disregard what the Bible teaches about ethics, morals, worldview, family, gender, marriage, and daily living. The Bible gives us ALL we need to live a life of faith before God and for His glory.

This commitment is not only a great privilege and a grand responsibility, it may be the most challenging one as well. The slide away from Scripture is a sad and heretical reality since Eve ate of the fruit in the garden. The desire to fit in and grow with the times of the culture is always a temptation. To affirm and live by the Word of God as the only rule for faith and life will always position us fighting upstream in the face of a cultural hurricane seeking to gather us up and welcome us to the ever changing winds of the day. May we always remember the covenant we have made in our day to not allow this to happen on our watch.

So - how are you serving? Are you serving the Lord and His people at M28 Church by faithfully, diligently, and joyfully maintaining the teaching of the Word of God as the only rule for faith and life?

As we serve one another in this way, we will find growing assurance that we will be found faithful on that Great Day of Christ’s return! I am thankful for each of you that serve us so well in this commitment of our covenant.

To God be the glory!

]]> Loving our neighbor as ourselves https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/21/loving-our-neighbor-as-ourselves Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:00:10 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/21/loving-our-neighbor-as-ourselves

We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:

Love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27)

Our modern culture is all about ‘self love.’ The world tells us that we have to learn how to love who we are and that we can’t love others until we fully love ourselves as we are. While we continue to reflect on each statement in our covenant as we celebrate 10 years as a church, is this what we mean by this statement in the M28 Church covenant? Not really!

How is love of self connected to love of neighbor according to Scripture? Of course, much could be said and I could preach a few sermons on this doctrine, but this love is based on directing self and neighbor to the Lord and His Word. There is no greater love than the Lord Himself, so He is the standard and the aim of all we do. Therefore, love of self and love of neighbor is to long that everyone might have the blessings that followers of Christ have by faith in Jesus! Love of neighbor is a love that proclaims that humanity can only and truly thrive as we seek to walk by faith in obedience to the Lord. This is why we share our faith and then direct all towards the truth of Scripture. The Bible gives us a full and comprehensive worldview and it is here that we love our neighbor as we lead them to submit to Christ and His Word.

I love that I know how the world began. I love that I know why man exists and what is the main purpose of humanity. I love that I know why we have different people groups all around the globe. I love that I have a moral ethic that brings freedom and isn’t constantly changing based on the whims of the culture. I love that I can know that God is One, but yet three Persons. I love that I know why I need God and how I can be reconciled to Him. I love that I know that salvation is in Christ and Christ alone by faith alone!  I KNOW these things because God has revealed this to us in His Word.  So - LOVE OF NEIGHBOR is to not only live by the Word, but to joyfully invite them to KNOW CHRIST and His Word!

I am thankful that many loved me enough years ago to share with me the greatest love and joy of the Gospel.

This is truly love of neighbor. A love that seeks all would know the joy of Christ and to hear the Gospel so they can thrive as they were intended to thrive as image bearers of their Maker.
]]> Loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds, & strengths https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/15/loving-god-with-all-our-hearts-souls-minds-strengths Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:09:49 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/15/loving-god-with-all-our-hearts-souls-minds-strengths
We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.

To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:
Love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strengths (Luke 10:27)

Our pursuit of God and our love of Him is comprehensive according to the Bible. His people will be ones that love Him with all we are: heart, soul, mind, and strength. Of course, we could do a word study on each of the words that Christ used in His response that we read in Luke 10, but the main point seems to be clear: True love of God cannot be partial in any form.
This type of love is transformational. It is from this pursuit and power of love that God allows us to show Him that we grow in sanctification. As I long to love God in fullness, I am finding over the years that He is shaping me more and more. This happens because I want my love to be shown in all I do as He has revealed to me in the Bible. This is the way idols are crushed in my life. It is the way that self-righteousness and pride can be dealt with daily. It is a desire to love God with all that I am with my mind, my body, my actions, and all I could even imagine as I seek to turn towards Him in love! This is where the love of God begins to prove as true freedom in my life. 
We are free to love Him fully, therefore we don’t have to submit to the whims of culture and the ever-changing tide of our day. We can be who we were fully created to be as we daily seek to love Him with all we are.
Church - this commitment we make to one another is a great question that we should ask one another often over coffee or whenever we meet in fellowship: “How are you doing in your love of God in all of your life?” 
What a joy to covenant with each of you so that we can encourage one another to daily live in the freeing love of our Lord as we seek to love Him with all of heart, soul, mind, and strength.
]]> Upholding & Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/08/upholding-proclaiming-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 14:45:05 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/08/upholding-proclaiming-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ

We, as a local body of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, do covenant together to make disciples of all nations and to promote one another to good works and mature faith in Christ.
To this end, we promise to God and each other that we will:
Uphold and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Jude 1:3)

This has to be where we begin and end in our covenant. This is our hope and the reason we exist. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 is clear that the Gospel is of 'first importance.' These few verses are a wonderful and succinct declaration of the Gospel. Our covenant unites us to uphold and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This means that it is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that holds us and unites us. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says that we should be the most pitied people if Christ isn’t alive and that our faith is only hopeful in these days of our lives.

But - He is alive! He is our hope and He is the reason that we covenant together. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way that we are reconciled to the Father now and eternally. Rejoice today that salvation is in Christ alone and that it is by faith alone that anyone is saved!  

My prayer for us as a church in the next ten years is that we will only grow in ever-increasing joy and confidence in the Gospel. Sadly, the Gospel becomes a side-note over time in some church families. The focus becomes more on the social focus of the day or a shift to a current marketing strategy in hopes to get people to ‘come to church.’ But, we read in Jude 1:3, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

The Lord has given an amazing stewardship to us as the people that must contend for the faith in the generations we represent that there is no faith apart from the Gospel. As I reflect back over the past 10 years at M28, I remember having conversations time and time again just resting in God’s command to be solely about the Gospel in all we do as a Church.

Therefore, M28, let’s never forget what is of ‘first importance’ and may we always be a people that will ‘contend for the faith’ as we uphold and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next week I will reflect on the second statement of our covenant as I rejoice in God’s faithfulness to us in our first 10 years as a local Church.
Blessings,
Matt
]]> 10 Year Anniversary https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/01/10-year-anniversary Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:07:19 +0000 https://m28church.com/blog/2023/11/01/10-year-anniversary
In the summer of 2013, it was a thrill to have a small gathering of people on the back deck of the home we were renting in Midtown each Sunday evening.  That summer, as we met, we enjoyed food, fellowship, Bible study, and lots of conversations and prayers about what a new faithful New Testament Church might be in the Midtown area.  As the summer was fading and the weather was changing, we needed to find a new place to meet as the back deck of our home would not work once it was cold and/or rainy. The house we rented at the time was tiny and had no space to gather people at all especially since all four of my kids were still young and home at this time.

God was gracious and I was able to find our first space just around the corner from our house that we were able to rent on Sunday mornings as the business using it was not in operation on the weekend.  From what I remember, it was about 17 people on that first Sunday in November 2013 and it has been such a joy to see what God has done and continues to do in the life of M28 Church.

With our 10 year anniversary upon us, I wanted to pause, reflect, and focus on our covenant. For the next 10 weeks or so, my aim is to write a weekly, brief reflection on each line of the covenant. I pray that it will be encouraging for you and that God may use it in your life so that you will persevere to the end and encourage one another to walk in faith and unity by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I truly pray that we will continue to be a people that care for one another well as we long to be faithful to our Savior.

I am excited about this Sunday as we will celebrate and each member will have the opportunity to sign the covenant that we will hang in the hallway by the offices and nursery.  This is an annual reminder that we are committed to the Lord, to one another, and to the privilege of caring for one another in this season of life.  We have some other special things lined up this Sunday to reflect and give praise to God for what He has done in our first 10 years! We will praise Him and boldly ask that He will sustain us in the coming days as we await His glorious return.
See you Sunday.
Blessings,
Matt
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